Donald Trump returns North Korea to US list of terrorism sponsors

Donald Trump has put North Korea back on a US list of “state sponsors of terrorism” after almost a decade, as his administration intensifies efforts to convince Pyongyang to abandon its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes.

Mr Trump unveiled the move on Monday, days after his return from Asia where his talks with leaders in Japan, China and South Korea were dominated by North Korea. “The US is designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. It should have happened a long time ago,” the president told reporters.

The Treasury would impose more sanctions on Pyongyang on Tuesday, Mr Trump added. His administration has been pushing nations around the world to put more economic pressure on Pyongyang and to back efforts at the UN Security Council to impose what have become the toughest sanctions on the North Korean regime.